Arch support



Au 7, 1935.. J. c. HOWELL 2,012,311

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E INVENTOR.

JOSEPH 6 H0 WELL A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 7, 135.. J. c. HOWELL y fi ARCH SUPPORT Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

-MOM/ w 6. flame-u A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 27, 1935 2 THE. STATES hA'l' OFF 1 GE ARCH SUPPORT JosephC; Howell, Fort Lee, N. .1

Application February 5, 1934, Serial No. 709,734

9 Claims. (C1 36- -71) This invention relates to arch supportsiof theinner and outer longitudinal arches where the character employing, a;supporting plate and greatest bending is requiredniearm for efiectingand maintaining an upward n a t o tO- Providing a Comfortable a archingor bowing of the said plate; natural support for the longitudinal andtrans- 5 The invention provides an improved arch supverserarches ofthefoot, the invention also pro- 6 port which may be readily applied toany style Vides anarch support including a plate recessed or type-ofmenawomens or childrensshoes and at its forward portion between theopposite sides which isv so constructed that a wide range of adto: accmmod e m a s f r s pp ing and corjustments in the height of the archedportion recting any abnorinal conditionof the metatar- 10 of thesupporting plate; may be obtained in order 5& arc Of the foot 10 toprovide a corrective support for any abnor- With the; aboverecited andother objects in mal condition or the longitudinal or transverse view,refer n e is w m to e following arches of the foot, specification andaccompanying drawings in The invention further contemplates an arch whih there ha been i lus r several p 1 '6 support including an, arch platewhich is conferred' e b i of the invention While the 1-5 structed as to,provide relative; different. degrees appfihdedvclalms a e nded to Coverother vaof resiliency andflexibiliw in various portions or riatiohd d"fi ns the eof which fall areas thereof and with, means underlying theWithin h 1 and Spirit the v t o arch plate and so connected?therewithsas to: exert In e drawings: i

0 stresses; thereon between its ends for effecting a bottom P w Of thearch Plate and maintaining upward bucknng or arching with the tensionplate and shoe shown in broken of the plate or portions thereof, whilepermitting 111195- of a, ufficient degree of flexing and; bending ofFig; 2 a longitudinal sectional view through the plate between itsendsso that'it yields or the arch Support and'shoe taken approximatelygives with the footto provide a proper and comon T s indicated at 25formble Support theremn Fig. 31s a bottom plan view similar to Fig. l,

' The invention further provides, in an arch supw g e tension plate,inlines port f the Character described, an arch i Fig. a ma transversesectional view through the composed of a plurality of plies orlaminations arch Support taken approxlma'tely on which are differentlycontoured and provide thetlme 47' 3O arying degrees of resiliencyandfiexibi lity at 10- f i iifi gg g g ggg fg g i i fgfi i g F: calizedareas or the plate With a gradual mei gplatteandfidjusting meanstherefor ing of the varying degreesof flexibility of, ad,- 35 jacentareas into eachother the greatest rep gg i gfig of further 35 sistanceto bending being located ad acent and Fighq'is a longitudinal SectionalView through medially side portion m underlies. the a shoe 'and archsupport illustrating the metamner. longltpfimal h. and t 1 detarsalsarchsupport combined with the arch supcreasing resistance and increaslngflexibility and port and: tension plate resiliency extending forwardly,rearwardl'y and R m the drawings by characters of 40 f a to f 3 3 sldeedge of t 1 reference, A designates the sole of a shoe, B the A rurtnerreature of the invention resldesin heelgandi Gthe arch Support whichoverlies the an arch support which includesa flexible and f d:p ti theheel and which extends resilient arch plate having its highest point orforwardlythereof to a point in from of the f W slde Whlch YP metatarsalarch underlying and supporting the hes the nner longitudinal a and Wmchmetatarsal archand-thelongitudinal and transcreases in height forwardlyand rearwardly Verse arches;

thereof and tothe Oppo Side edge? the The arch support C includes alongitudinal p ate, and w eh f t n d s means for arch'plate m; which maybe constructed in any 5 JllStlIlg the heightdesiredim'ann'er' to provideareas or portions hav- The invention further comprehends in an arch ingdifferent, degrees of flexibility or resiliency, support, an arch platewhich is so fashioned at the area; or portion having the greatestresistits forward portion and so connected with a tenance to flexing orbending and which is the highsion plate as to provide a high degree offiexiest: regionrin the arch of the plate, is located adbility in theregion; of the forward, ends of: the: jacentzto the: innersideedgethereof. and under- 55 lies the inner longitudinal arch, withareas or portions thereof of increasing flexibility or resiliencymerging one with the other and extending forwardly and rearwardly to theend edges of the plate and to the opposite side edge thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the arch plate It iscomposed of a plurality of thin spring metal or equivalent flexibleplies or laminations II, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6 and IT, each of which isconnected at its edge to its adjacent ply or plies to provide aresilient laminated assembly having areas of varying degrees offlexibility.

the shoe in the region of the instep and at its forward end is recessedat I8 to provide forwardly extending divergent or forked portions I9 and20, which portions are formed as continuations of the inner and outersides of the arch plate assembly and extend in the direction of andunderlie the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot.

The rear of the outer side edge 2| of the topmost ply I I curvesinwardly and merges into the rear edge which extends across the shoestructure in the region of the heel portion B in a rearward direction,the rearmost point then merging into the opposite inner side'edge 23.The next adjacent underlying ply I2 follows generally the contour of theply I I and hasforked or divergent forward ends 2 1 and 25, the formerbeing of substantially the same shape as the corresponding portion I 9of the plate I I but terminating slightly in rear thereof andbeing-unsecured thereto but adapted to bear thereagainst. The forked end25 of the ply I2 is of lesser size and length than the portion 20 of theply I I and bears thereagainst but is not secured thereto. The outerside edge 26 of the ply I2 extends diagonally and rearwardly towards theinner side edge 23 of the ply II and said edge 26 is spaceda'substantial distance from the edges ZI and 22 of the plate II and hasconcavities adjacent its forward and rear ends which merge into a medialconvexity. The rearmost portion of the ply I2 is spaced slightly inadvance of the rearmost portion of the edge 22 of the plate II. Themarginal edge 26 and the inner side edge which correspondsto the edge25:- of the ply II is spot welded or otherwise secured to the ply I I asat 21 and also along a line extending across the forked portion 25 asillustrated.

The remaining plies It to I I inclusive are of generally similar contourbut of I progressively smaller size and the plies I 3 and [4 haveforwardly projecting portions 28 and 29 at their inner sides with thelatter portion 29- underlying the portion 28 and with the portion 28underlying the portion 2 3, which portions are unsecured in order thatthe arch plate may freely flex in this region.

The remaining marginal edges of the plies I3 and M and the entiremarginal edges of the plies 55, I 3, and ii are spot welded or otherwisesecured to the next adjacent ply or plies as shown to provide alaminated assembly with the inner side edges of all of the pliesdisposed flush with each other.

The arch supporting structure further includes a tension plate 3%, whichin the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, has a forwardportion S-I so contoured as to permit of the contact of the foot withthe insole of the shoe at the bases of the great and little toes andwhich underlies the forked portions I9 and 20 and has.

The topmost ply or lamination II, at its side edges, conforms to theshape of the last of a forward convex edge 32 extending between theforward ends of the forked portions which are welded or otherwisesecured thereto as at 33. The tension plate 30 is of graduallydecreasing width from the forward portion SI towards the rear and has aninner concave side edge 34 which follows substantially the shape of theinsole and which, together with the opposite concave side edge 35,defines a rearwardly directed diagonal terminal 36 which terminates atthe juncture of the rearmost portion of the rear edge 22 with the innerside edge 23 of the ply I I and is spot welded or otherwise securedthereto as at til.

The arch plate may be adjusted in any desired manner by increasing ordecreasing the degree of curvature of the tension plate 39 and as shownin this form of the invention, a headed stud 3B is secured to theunderside of the tension plate and has an internally threaded hollowshank 39 depending therefrom and extending into a sleeve 49 which islocated in an opening in the shank portion of the sole A of the shoe. Ascrew shank 4| threadedly engages within the threaded bore of the shank39 and has its kerfed head disposed in an opening $2 in a face plate 43countersunk in the underside of the shank portion of the shoe, thesleeve 4%] extending through an opening formed in one or more springleaves 44 which bears on the upper surface of the shank portion of theshoe with the upper end of the sleeve beaded or flanged to overlie theleaf M as at 45. The spring leaf 44 and face plate 43 are suitablyanchored to the shank portion of the shoe. The screw II between thekerfed head and the shank thereof is formed with an enlarged circularflange il disposed between the face plate A3 and the lower end of thesleeve so that the screw H is free to turn or move the stud 38vertically, while retained against axial movement. Vertical movement ofthe stud 38 may be thus effected by turning of the screw M whichmovement produces a corresponding flexing of the tension plate 30 tovary the curvature of the arch plate. In this form of the invention alsoit is apparent that adjustments may be made in the degree of curvatureof the arch plate while the shoe is being worn, by varying the curvatureof the tension plate through the medium of the screw H.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the uppermost ply IIis anchored adjacent its rear end as by a stud 58 which extendsdownwardly through an opening in the ply II and is secured in the shankportion of the sole. In this form of the invention also the rear portionof the tension plate 30 terminates in spaced relation with the rear edge22 of the ply II but which is adjustably connected with the plateassembly It to vary the height and curvature thereof. As shown, theadjustable connection includes a pair of sleeves 58. and 52 havingoppositely directed forked shanks 53 and 54 which are spot welded orotherwise secured to the underside of the rear portions of the tensionplate 30' and the plate assembly Ill respectively with the sleeves 5!and 52 spaced apart and provided with longitudinally aligned threadedbores to receive the opposite ends of a threaded screw 55, one end ofwhich is provided with a right hand thread and the other end with a lefthand thread, the sleeves 5i and 52 being correspondingly threaded. Thescrew 55 is provided with an enlarged medial head 56 having one or moreapertures 51 to receive therethrough a lock or cotter pin 53 by means ofwhich the screw 55 may be secured against turning when the same has beenadjusted auras-tr to effect the degree of tensiomdesired between theopposite ends of the spring rear assembly so as to produce the requireddegree of "curvature in thearch plate; In-order to=fiir-ther loci r thescrew 55 a'lochnut fi isprovided on one of the threaded ends of thescrew-55 for engagement against theendc'rf'thesl'eeve 5 H 5 In the form"oflthe inventiondllustrated in Fig. 6', the uppermostpl'y 60* of?thearch plate; which corresponds to the-ply H in the other forms,extends rearwardlyto' overliethe-entire heel" portion of the shoestrueturegwhile 'the remaining plies are identical with those in theother forms of the invention: In this instance, the arch" plate is"anchored" at G land 6-2 to the shoe structure and thetension'platetbiisformed with the rearwardly extending-terminal Sy-which has welded or*otherwise-- secured was rearmost portion aninternallythreaded sleeve 65 which depends therefrom. A threadedi of-ascrew engages in the sleevefifi and extends rearwardly through anopening 61 in the heel structure'68 of" the shoe: The screw shank 66 isprovided with a kerfed head 69 and an enlarged flange iii, the headlying within an opening H in a plate l2 recessed in the rear face of theheel structure E8 and anchored in place by screws 13 which arethreadedly engaged in sleeves 14 secured within the heel structure. Theflange ID is located in a recess l5 in the heel structure and iscoveredby the plate 12. Adjustments in the tension plate 53 are effectedby turning the screw shank 66 to increase or decrease the curvature ofthe arch plate fill.

In the various forms of the invention illustrated, the arch plate whichsupports the inner and outer longitudinal and transverse arches may alsobe provided with means for supporting the metatarsal arch and as shownin Fig. 7, the metatarsal arch supporting means consists of a yieldableresilient pad 89 which overlies the forward portion of the tension plateand is exposed for contact with the metatarsal region of the foot by therecessed forward portion of the arch plate iii. As particularlyillustrated, the tension plate has secured thereto a yieldable element8| which defines together with the tension plate a pocket having anentrance mouth 82 disposed rearwardly for permitting of the introductionof the pad 38 thereto and the removal of the same therefrom in order tointerchangeably employ pads of varying shapes and sizes. Under thisconstruction and arrangement, it is apparent that an arch support hasbeen devised which combines in a single structure adjustable means forsupporting the longitudinal and transverse arches as well as themetatarsal arch of the foot.

What is claimed is:

1. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate so constructed andarranged as to provide portions thereof having relatively differentdegrees of thickness and varying degrees of flexibility with thegreatest thickness and resistance to bending being located in thehighest region in the arch of the plate and with areas of lesserthickness and increasing flexibility merging one with the other andextending forwardly and rearwardly thereof to the end edges of theplate, a flexible tension plate fixedly connected with the arch plateadjacent the opposite ends thereof, and means for tensioning saidtension plate for effecting a differential upward arching of the archplate.

2. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate so constructed andarranged as to provide portionethereofi having relatively: different:degrees'of thic'imess and varying degreesof flexibil ity with thegreatest thickness and resistan'ce to sending beinglocated inthe highestregion r in the arch of the pi ate and with areas- 0f lesser tlricknessa nd increasin'g flexibility: merging one with'theotherandextendingforwardly'and rearwardly thereof to the end edges of the plate;a tension plate fixedly connected atone end with the' arc'h plateandtm'eans; connected"? withsaid remiss plate so as to efl-ect' alongitudinal stress on-the arch-plate between its endsand an upwardamongst saidarch 'plate." 4

3. -Anarch support for shoes- -includi ng an arch plate having itsforward medialportion recessed te provide forwardly divergent extensionsof the inner and outerside portions; of the plate-which extend 'in thedirection of and underlie theiiiner and outer longitudinal archesthefoot; the

saidplate being" further so constructed aind anranged as to provideportions thereof having 'reliatiy'elydiiferent degrees ofthicltness' andvarying degrees offlexibility the greatest thickness and resistance tobending being located adjacent the inner side edge of the plate and inthe region of the highest portion of the arch plate and with portionsthereof of lesser thickness and increasing flexibility merging one withthe other and extending forwardly thereof to the end edges of saidextensions, a tension plate fixedly connected to the forward end of saidextensions, and means for tensioning said tension plate for effecting adifferential upward arching of the arch plate.

4. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate composed of aplurality of flexible plies connected together and so contoured as toprovide a resilient laminated assembly having portions thereof ofvarying degrees of flexibility, with the greatest resistance to bendingbeing located in the region of the highest portion of the arch plate andwith portions thereof of increasing flexibility merging one with theother and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof to the end edges ofthe plate, a flexible tension plate fixedly connected with the archplate adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and means for tensioning saidtension plate for effecting a difierential upward arching of the archplate.

5. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate composed of aplurality of flexible plies connected together and so contoured as toprovide a resilient laminated assembly having portions thereof ofvarying degrees of flexibility, with the greatest resistance to bendingbeing located in the region of the highest portion of the arch plate andwith portions thereof of increasing flexibility merging one with theother and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof to the end edges ofthe plate, a tension plate fixedly connected at one end with the archplate, and means connected with said tension plate so as to effect alongitudinal stress on the arch plate between its ends to effect adifferential upward arching of the said arch plate.

6. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate composed of aplurality of flexible plies connected together and so contoured as toprovide a resilient laminated assembly having portions thereof ofvarying degrees of flexibility, with the greatest resistance to bendingbeing located adjacent the inner side edge of the arch plate in theregion of the highest portion of the arch plate and with portionsthereof of increasing flexibility merging one with the other andextending forwardly and rearwardly thereof to the end edges of the archplate and to the opposite side edge thereof, a tension plate fixedlyconnected at one end with the arch plate, and means connected with saidtension plate so as to effect a longitudinal stress on the arch platebetween its ends to effect a difierential upward arching of the saidarch plate.

7. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate composed of aplurality of flexible plies secured together and so contoured as toprovide a resilient laminated assembly having portions thereof ofvarying degrees of flexibility certain of said plies having theirforward portions recessed to provide forwardly divergent extensions atension plate fixedly connected to the forward ends of said extensions,and means connected with said tension plate so as to effect alongitudinal stress on the arch plate between its ends to effect adifferential upward arching of said arch plate.

8. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate having its forwardmedial portion recessed to provide forwardly directed extensions of theinner and outer side portions of the plate, a tension plate fixedlyconnected to the forward ends of said extensions, means connected withsaid tension plate so as to effect a longitudinal stress on the archplate between its ends to produce an upward arching of the arch plate,and yieldable resilient means arranged upon the forward end of saidtension plate between the said extensions for supporting the metatarsalarch of the foot.

9. An arch supporting accessory for shoes including a flexible resilientarch plate, a flexible resilient stress plate fixedly connected with thearch plate adjacent the opposite ends thereof and adapted upon flexingof the stress plate to exert a compression on the arch plate between itsends for efiecting a differential arching of the arch plate, and meanscooperating with the stress plate for flexing the same, said lattermeans being carried by the shoe and adjustable 20 from the exteriorthereof.

JOSEPH C. HOWELL.

